Outdoor Living Florida Style

Staying true to natural elements

BY BETH ANN DRAKE

For many, more time spent at home has led to enhancing our surroundings. Beautifying the space we live in by tackling small projects or re-designing entire spaces. And because we live in the Sunshine City, a large part of our lifestyle involves the outdoors. Families are spending more quality time by the pool, the water, or enjoying a backyard oasis.

We talked with local experts about designing outdoor living spaces, especially in our Florida climate, and the latest trends in design, as well as some new ideas and old standards. From landscape design to outdoor lighting and poolside entertaining, we explore how to bring the inside out.

Landscape and Outdoor Design

For over 20 years, lifestyle designer Kim Levell of Levell Design has approached outdoor living spaces intuitively with a holistic approach. Her passion stems from a love of the environment and she feels the space should “holistically refl ect our natural environment. The goal is to bring the inside outside and create a space that is a celebration of who you are. Almost a healing environment, like the beach.”

Levell’s first bit of advice? “Have a plan. And don’t feel like you need to do it all at once, but know where you’re going.” She looks at a space as a workable palette, and the entire project as a process. To begin, know the purpose of your space. Will you be entertaining? For how many? Or is privacy a priority?

The answers to these questions will help determine the flow and synergy of your design. In choosing key pieces for topographical artistry, Levell warns against simply going with the latest trends. “I lean towards enduring style. You get the most use out of creating a design that lasts,” she says. She suggests investing in legacy pieces, eclectic things that will last that can be passed on through a family. “People may not realize that a 1,000-pound pot planter took a craftsman fi ve months to create it. Thirty years from now it will still be here. You can change out the plants, but the pot will still be here.”

Enduring design is also important in our climate. When it comes to outdoor furniture, resin wicker is a popular outdoor look, but there are many diff erent grades available. Some will hold up to our Florida sun and some will not. Levell cautions, “Know what you’re buying.” Making the investment in higher grade materials will add years to the life of your furniture. She also likes to add color to the current monotone trends with outdoor pillows.

Biophilic Design (incorporating natural materials, natural light, vegetation, and nature views) has become an integral part of Levell’s process. “It creates a reverberation between nature and humans. Give to nature and it gives back to you,” she insists. This ethos promotes the theory that design is more than a functional or aesthetic discipline, that it can improve our physical and mental well-being.

Functionality is still a key component to consider when designing your space. Levell also manages the things you don’t see. “Electric, lighting and drainage are important elements in design,” she cautions. “And if there is a covered space will it need fans? I always consider how the client will use the space when designing it.”

For instance, placing an outdoor kitchen near pocket sliders can cause air flow issues. Or placing it too far from the interior kitchen can cause inconveniences with prep work. “You have to take the environment into account as well. Outdoor lighting on a beach property for example, if not done properly, could interfere with nesting turtles at night.”

So whether your space is large or small, attention to the details is key, as well as how you see yourself using it. As Kim Levell espouses: “Every bit of it should have a purpose.”

Information was provided by Kim Levell Design, 813-810-5469 or visit kimlevell.com

Cooking up the perfect outdoor kitchen

For smaller social gatherings or just a Friday night dinner at home, outdoor kitchens are an ideal place to enjoy company in an open-air environment. Culinary masters and average cooks alike can have all of the extras that an indoor kitchen provides, and endless designs can either blend with your outdoor motif or become the focal point of your space.

We asked the experts at Grand Kitchen & Bath about the opportunities and challenges in creating outdoor kitchens in Florida. Richard Valmain and Julie Burch have been designing and installing kitchens for over 16 years locally and have worked with countless designers to create ideal interior and exterior kitchens.

Cabinets are the backbone of any kitchen design, and our tropical weather along with a sometimes blazing sun can wreak havoc on sub-par materials, says Valmain. He recommends NatureKast cabinets which are weatherproof even in our tropical climate. “Built specifically for outdoor kitchens, you can have the look and feel of real cypress or teak, in a variety of finishes,” he says. Originating out of south Florida, NatureKast created a resin and PVC material that won’t fade, warp or crack but has natural grain detail.

Whether your kitchen has to fit on a smaller covered patio, or you want a full-on outdoor oasis, your design can accommodate a host of modern conveniences. Virtually any grill size can be integrated into your outdoor kitchen, even the popular Big Green Eggs. Bowed-front cabinets present a unique touch that meshes with rounded grills and cooktops. Designated space for refrigerators, rollout trays for easy propane storage and even dishwashers have become integral parts of modern outdoor kitchen design.

Other considerations for your time spent outside may include TV cabinets that fold shut when not in use. There are even Yeti cooler cabinets built specifically to hold name brand accoutrements. As Julie puts it, “If you can imagine it, we can make it!”

Countertops are a key piece of your kitchen, hopefully one you’ll be working on for years to come. Again, consider the elements when choosing your materials. You can select from countless looks and finishes, but make sure they will last. Valmain cautions, “Natural quartz and granite can fade in direct sun. Dekton countertops won’t fade in even 600 degree heat.” These surfaces are backed by a 10-year warranty, and resist stains, heat and scratches. You can choose textures from hi-gloss to matte to suit your tastes.

Modern materials have made it possible to add over-the-top features to your outdoor entertaining as well. Resort-style sunken pool bars with built in cabinets and bar areas are now a possibility in your backyard. Design is still key, and as Julie states, “Your end product is always better with a good designer. A good designer can figure out how to make semi-custom into custom.”

Information was provided by Grand Kitchen & Bath, 727-327-3007 or visit grandkitchen.com

Options Abound with Outdoor Lighting

Does your house disappear into the night after the sun goes down? Professional outdoor lighting can not only beautify your home’s curb appeal at night, but it can also add safety and security for your family and guests.

There are a myriad of designs and styles to take your home from drab to fab after sunset. Focusing on separate lighting design elements can simplify the process of pulling your whole look together. From architectural lighting to landscape lighting and more, low-voltage outdoor lighting can truly transform your home into a work of art and allow you enjoy the outdoors long after the sun goes down.

Landscape Lighting

Your landscaping is one of the loveliest and most distinctive features of your home. And yet it’s probably hidden once the sun goes down—diminishing your enjoyment of the view and limiting the usability of your yard after dark. From trees and gardens to fountains and statues, landscape lighting can perfectly accentuate the most stunning features in your yard.

Pathway Lighting

Energy-efficient path lights direct downward to showcase pathways and are a great way to highlight low flowerbeds. Illuminating pathways in your front or back yard also provides peace of mind that the areas will be safe and beautiful all at the same time. For special paths around your pool or outdoor seating, decorative bollard lighting can provide a beautiful design detail.

Up Lighting

Create that welcoming feeling in the evening hours by up lighting the façade of your home. With up lighting you can highlight those special architectural details that set your home apart or add a pop of color by highlighting trees in the front yard. A professional lighting expert will ensure your home’s lighting is even and doesn’t cause any uneven shadows.

Bistro Lighting

A well-designed lighting plan will help extend your outdoor living into all four seasons of the year. To enjoy your outdoor spaces, you need the right lighting that allows you to entertain without providing harsh glare to your guests while increasing usability and functionality of the areas. String lighting is a festive way to provide warm light for your guests during outdoor events and extend the party long into the evening. You can also highlight backyard features to enjoy, such as perimeter trees to create some depth in your backyard.

Deck and Step Lighting

There are great options for undermount deck lights that don’t show much by day, but certainly give off a great deal of light at night. Rope lighting almost completely disappears by day when installed properly underneath a deck rail and gives off a soft glow in the evening hours.

Step lighting is an ideal way to keep your stairs safe by placing lights in the stairs themselves. With all of these types of lighting, using the right fixtures is imperative. Solid copper and brass fixtures are perfect for the Florida weather as they can stand up to the elements and naturally patina over time, which blends seamlessly into the existing landscape.

Color Lighting

First there was halogen lighting. Then it evolved to LED technology which increased energy efficiency and longevity. Now there is a new product available in LED with color lighting—providing homeowners the flexibility to transform their home based on the time of year or special occasion.

Homeowners can now celebrate with vivid color and adjust the brightness—all from your smart phone. With the touch of a button, your home can be ready for Christmas, Halloween, or the 4th of July. No more having to deal with strands of lights, take down and storage!

From curb appeal to fire pits and outdoor living spaces, you can bring your back yard to life with a simple change of color. And for coastal homeowners, if you need to change your outdoor lighting color for turtle nesting season, you can now do it right from your smart phone.

Information was provided by Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Tampa Bay & Clearwater, 727-785-6000 or visit outdoorlights.com/clearwater